Word
hunky
US/ˈhəŋki/
UK/hˈʌŋki/
Definition
adj. describing a man who is very attractive and has a strong, healthy body. It is a casual way to say someone is good-looking.
adj. describing a man as physically attractive and robust.
Examples
“He is a hunky guy with a great smile.”
“The movie star is famous for his hunky looks and his ability to play action heroes.”
Examples
simple
“He is a hunky guy with a great smile.”
contextual
“The movie star is famous for his hunky looks and his ability to play action heroes.”
Real-World Examples
“Teen crush magazines: Tiger Beat and other teeny-bopper titles featured photos of hunky stars and casually intimate details about teen heartthrobs, making them a precursor to today’s voracious celebrity gossip culture.” “It gets the relationship so much further down the road when it’s not two hunky dudes.” Etymology
From hunk + -y.
From the older *hunk, probably alteration of Hungarian + -ie/-y. Compare bohunk and honky / honkey.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/hunky